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MacKay was to be at the high school Friday, which was a rescheduling of his original visit slated for Nov. 5.

Lourdes teacher Joe Tersigni, the driving force behind the leadership award program, said he was told Thursday that MacKay won’t be able to attend because he is travelling with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Tersigni said he was told that MacKay would like to reschedule for a day in December when the House of Commons is not in session.

MacKay cancelled the first time over a belief that he would be needed in Ottawa to vote in the House that day. It turned out there were no House votes.

That visit would have marked the start of the school’s Veterans’ Week in Canada commemoration. MacKay was to have spoken about the sacrifices made by the Canadian Armed Forces, and the importance of leadership among today’s youth. He was also to have taken part in the raising of a Canadian flag that was once flown in Kandahar.

Friday’s visit would have allowed the political head of the Canadian Forces to join in a celebration of the birthday of famous Guelph soldier Col. John McCrae.

In the past, the leadership award has been bestowed on a number of leading Canadian citizens, including broadcaster Lloyd Robertson, Linamar chief executive Linda Hasenfratz, rocker Ronnie Hawkins and former prime ministers Brian Mulroney, Paul Martin and John Turner.